Machine for seasoning or finishing leather



5 .mme w 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

u, ew V J. U. FLANAGAN.

MACHINE FOR SESONING 0R FINISHING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I3, 1917.

A TTR/VEYS IJ. U. FLANAGAN.

MACHINE FOR SEASONING 0R FINISHING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I3. 1917.

1,352, 186, PatentedSept. 7, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" Arron/vers U'Niran stares Arareni" ferries.

JAMES U, FLANAGAN, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR T SLOCOMB & C0., INCORPORATED, OF WILMINGTON,DELAWARE, `A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MAGH'IN E FOR SEASONING OR- EINISHING LEATHER.

specification pf Lettersratent. I patented Sept. 7, 1920.

Application led November 13, 1917. Serial' No. 201,741.

l To all w/wm t may concern: Be it known that I, JAMES U. FLANAGAN, ia .citizen of the United States, residing at jVVilmington, in the county of New Castle, State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Machine for Seasoning or Finishing Leather, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to a novel appliance for machines for seasoning and iinishing leather, ofthe general type of machine disclosed in my contemporaneously pending application, Serial No. 84,033, now Patent 1,257,595, the principal object of my invention being to provide a novel device for automatically and continuously feeding seasoning liquor of an. even consistency and quantity to the skins to be treated, which object I attain by conducting or dischargbelow a regulated level to agitate the sediment therein to bring the seasoning liquor to an even consistency for application to the skin.

My invention further consists of novel ineens for confining the agitation of the liquidat a point adjacent to a fluted roller partly immersed in said liquor which is adapted to automatically conduct the liquor to a contiguous brush roll arranged in operative relation to a traveling apron upon which the skin to be treated is carried.

My invention further consists in collocating my novel liquor feeding device with a leather. nishing machine comprising a continuously moving endless apron upon which the skins to be treated are carried, a brush roll onto which the liquor is fed from my novel device'. said brush roll being located in proximity to the endless apron and adapted to feed and rub the liquor into the skin carried thereupon, said apron moving upwardly and downwardly over a rotatable frown shaft, adapted to stretch the skin on the grain side to permit the penetration'of the seasoning liquor to the desired extent, a brush rollerin close vproximity to the crown shaft to rub theliquor' into the skin while in a stretched condition, additional brush and a cleansing roll for cleansingthe apron preparatory to carrying askin, which foregoing features in connection with my novel ing compressed air into the seasoning liquor rolls for rubbing the liquor into'the skim,

seasoning liquor feeding device produce a machine 'which will satisfactorily and eficientlyseason or finish a skin.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I Vhave shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results,A

although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is `not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described. Figure l represents a diagrammatic view of aleathcr seasoning or finishing machine, showing also in side elevation my novel automatic means for supplying the seasoning liquor to the skin and agitating the same during the operation of the machine.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section, of the seasoning liquor pan, lutedroll, submerged perforated 'air pipe and other adjuncts to insure the even consistency and supply of season-l ing liquid to .the fiuted roll, contiguous brush roll and the skin being treated.

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3 3 Fig. 1, showing the manner of collocating the pan forV the seasoning liquor, the agitating device therefor, the fluted roll and coactingvbrush roll. Fig. e represents, on an enlarged scale, a fragmentary section on the line lf- 1i of Fig. 2, showing-the mounting of the perforated air pipe in the liquor seasoning pan. Y Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings:- 1 designates my vnovelI construction of seasoning machine, the same Comprising the framework 2 upon which are mounted the various shafts, power transmission devices, endless apron or bQlster and coactlng brush rolls, the manner of collocating and actuating the saine being obviously capable o f variation according to reqirements.

3 vdesignates my novel seasoning liquor.-

supply devicearrangedin operative connection withthe other instrumentalities of the machine for automatically supplying seasoning liquor of an even'iconsiste'n'cy andl l `a tight and loose pulley, .the tight pulley being secured to said main shaft, whereby I power is applied thereto from -any convenient source.

Upon the main shaft 4 is mounted a sprocket wheel .6, around which passes the chain'7 in .driving connection with the sprocket wheel 8 mounted on the shaft 9, carrying the gear 10 in mesh with .the gear 11 mounted on the shaft 12.-

Mounted A-on the shaft 12 is the sprocket wheel 13, which actuates the sprocket chain 14 in .driving connection with the sprocket lwheel 15 mounted on the'shaft 16, 4which latter carries a sprocket wheel 17, which actuatesthe sprocket chain V18.in driving connection with `the sprocket wheel 19 mounted on the shaft 20. e

' 21 designates a sprocket wheel on .the main shaft 4 which actuates the sprocket,chain22 which isin driving connection with the sprocket wheel 23 mounted on the shaft y24 carrying the sprocket wheel 25 which actuates the sprocket chain 26 in driving connection with the sprocket wheel 27 mounted on the shaft 28. y

29 designatesa sprocket wheel mounted on the main shaft 4,' which actuates a sprocket. chain 30 yin driving connection with. the. sprocket wheel'31`mounted on the shaft 32,

which drives the rotaryor other vpump 76 to be referredto. n

33 designates a sprocket wheel mounted on the Vshaft 12 andaround which passes lthe sprocket chain 3 4 in driving connection with *the sprocket wheel ,35 mounted on the shaft vl36y.carrying the'sprocket wheel 37 around which passes the sprocketchain 38 indri'ving connection with the sprocket w-heel39 mounted on` the shaft 40... Y

41 ydesignates a sprocket wheel m'ounteLQn l the mainvshaft 4 and which actuates the sprocket chain 42 in driving connectionwith the sprocket wheel,43 mounted on the shaft 44-carr'ying the rear drum 45 around which passes the endless apron or bol'ster 46, the direction` of travel ofthe latter being apparent from Fig. 1. Motion imparted to the bolster 46 by the drums 45 is transmitted to a drum 47 around which the bolster passes at the front end of the machine. The drum 47 is mountedon ashaft 48 carrying a gear 49 in mesh with the gear 50 mounted on the shaft 51 carrying a sprocketwheel 52 which .actuates the sprocket chain 53 in driving connection with the sprocket wheel 54 mounted on the shaft 55 to 'which a iuted roll 67, best seen in Figs. and 3, is secured for conducting seasoning liquor from the'- pan 66 to the contiguous'brush roll 59.

v'56 designates a crownl shaftroller over nzhich the apron 46 passes so that the skin 5 during its travel over the elevated portion of the apron or bolster 46 will have itsl grain side somewhat stretched, so as to receive the requisite amount of the seasoning liquor.

58 designates a cleaning roll which. ismounted upon the shaft 28 and whose function is to clean the contiguous surfaces of the apron or bolster 46. In theupper portion of the machine are located a plurality of brush rolls, such as the brush roll 59 mounted onthe shaft 20, see Fig. 3, the brush roll. 61 mounted on the shaft 36- and the.

roll 60 mounted on the shaft 16, the 4brush brush roll 62 mounted on the shaft 40, it`

being apparent that in the present instance I have shown'four of these brush rolls which are adapted to thoroughly coat the described in connection with the drums,

fiuted roll, brush rolls, crown shaft, sprocket wheels, cleaning roll, pump, and their ad.

juncts,may be collocated and adjusted with respect to each other in any desirableman-- ner,thef orm illustrated having been found to be most satisfactory and efficient in practice. -The direction of movement of the drums, fluted roll, brush rolls,"crow`n shaft, 'cleaning' roll, pump, sprocket wheel, and

their' coacting shafts and gearing will be apparentl from` the A shown in Fig. .1. of the drawings, from which I -have purposely'olnitted the-heus# l ing .and the specific form of 'the power transmission'devices for the sake of clearness of illustration, as these will be "readily 'understood by those 'skilled'n this art.

\ The mounting of the various shafts-.on the' side. frame 2 2 and the operation'of the above men 'oned elements in respect to the apron-46 and skin 57 is preferably similar to that disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 84,033, vheretofore referred to, and represent one form of. seasoning machine, to which my present invention is particularly applicable, which will now be de-V scribed in detail. i

'My novel seasoning liquor. feeding andy agitati'ng .device 3 comprises a pan 66, which is supported by longitudinally slotted diagrammatic y view brackets63 secured to the side frames '2.

64 designates fastening devices positioned 1n sa1d slotted brackets and engaging inthe adjustably supporting said seasoning liquor pan 66, within which is located a revoluble fluted roll 67 secured onthe shaft 55 and partly submerged in the seasoning liquor contained in said pan 66, whereby' said sea-A soning liquor is conducted to the contiguous brush roll 59, and thence to the skin 57 carried on the bolster or apron 46.

68 designates'a perforated compressed air l pipe submerged in the"s/easoning liquor contained in the pan 66, one end ofvsaid airin close proximity to the periphery of the fluted roll 67, as will be understood from Fig. 3, so as to form `a confined agitating pocket 83 in the pan between the lower 4portion of the iiuted roll 67, rear portion of the pan 66 and the perforated pipe 68,-'so as to confine'the agitation of the liquor in respect to the fluted roll 67 'and prevent undue splashing from the pan.

72 designates -several supporting blocks adapted to support the perforated air pipe 68' from the bottom of the pan 66, said pipe being so located inrespect to the fluted roll 67, so as to produce the best results, and for purposes of illustration, have shOWIl. the' said pipe beneath the fluted roll d preferably on one side of the vertical aXis thereof, as will be understood from Fig. 3', al

though it will be understood that the pan,

fluted roll an'd air pipe may be collocated differently, if desired.

74 is submerged in the liquor and the valve Y 75 controls the supply of compressed air .through said lower end into the seasoning 73 designates a seasoning liquor supply tank which may be conveniently. located inrespect to the machine for supplying seasoning liquor to the pan 66, as 'seen at the left of the bottom of Fig. 1. 74 designates a tap pipe leading from the main air supply pipe 70 and discharging air into the tank 73. The discharge or lower end of the pipe liquor to agitatesaid liquor and insure an even consistency of the seasoning liquor during the operation of the machine.

76 designates: a rotary or other pump located in the pipe line 77 for raising a supply of seasoning liquor from the tank 73 to the pan 66 during the operation ofthe machine, said pump being operated by the shaft 32 heretofore referred to. 78 designates a valve for controlling the supply of liquor elevated from'the tank 73 to the pan 66, the position of the suction and discharge terminals of the pipe line. 77 being apparent from the left of Fig. '1.

The discharge end 7 9'v of the seasoning liquor supply pipe is formed L-shaped to from the pipe 77 into the pan 66, 80 designates an overflow pipe, the upper end or intake 81 of which automatically regulates the depth of the liquid in the pan 66 in respect to the luted roll 67 while the discharge end 82 communicates with and discharges into the tank 73, so' that there is no waste under any conditions. y

In the operation of seasoning a skin, power is applied tothe main shaft 4 from which motion is transmitted to the several shafts upon or from which 'the various op-r erative elements lare revolved, the direction of rotation of the'endless apron or bolster and the various sprocket wheels, chains, gears, and brush rolls being apparent from the arrows seen in Fig. l. The several operationsof the machine taken in their nat- -ural sequence consist in first operating the rotary pump 76 throughi the i'q'tation of the shaft, 32,'- which pumps the season liquidfrom the supply tank.73 through the valve controlled 'pipe 77 into the pan 66 adjustably supported at the front of the machine between the side frames 2. When the season *liquidv reaches a depth regulated by-,the upper terminal lof the overflow pipe 80, said f liquid will overflow into -the intake head 81 and be returned to the talnk 73, thereby automatically insuring a/ continuous and regvlinsure the downward discharge of the liquor ulated supply of season liquid in the pan 66,'

irrespective of that used or carried off by the luted roll 67 to the contiguous brushroll 59. The'valve7 5 of the compressed air supply line upon being opened will allow air under pressure to pass'into the pipe 74 and be discharged into the tank 73 to agitate the sediment of the seasoning liquor to insure the liquid being ofan even or properconsistency;l The valve 714 upon being opened allows compressed air to pass into the perforated pipe 66, seeFigs. 3 and 4, and 'be discharged rearwardly and downwardly the sediment in the season liquor therein to against the bottom of the pan 66 to agitate y v hold the liquor to an even consistency for application to the skins.

By the revolving of the fluted roller 67 partly immersed in the season liquid, the latter is conducted -in the flutes to the contiguous brush roll 59, which when brought to the desired point o'f saturation is ready l for treating a skin. It will therefore be readily seen that with a feeding device of this character acting automatically in conjunction with the iuted roll 67 and the brush roll 59, a continuous supply of liquor v of an even consistency and quantity is continuously and automatically applied to the skins to be treated.

After the brush roll 59 is brought to the desired point of saturation, the skins to be treated are placed on the left of the upwardly inclined portion of the apron or bolster 46, seen in Fig. 1, and passed initially beneath the front or first brush roll 59 which is always kept in a proper saturated condition by the automatic feeding device 3.

It will be apparent that the front brush roll 59 which preferably revolves at about fifty revolutions per minute initially applies theiseasoning liquor to the outer surface of the skin, said seasoning liquor being rubbed into the body of the skin as the latter advances by the three succeeding brush rolls y60', 61 and 62, as will be understood from the diagrammatic view in Fig. 1.

I preferably drive sdch brush rolls in such a manner that each successive brush roll rotates at a progressively increasing peed. It will, however, be understood that the speed or revolution of the brush rolls can be pr0- .gressively increased or diminished according to the condition .of the skin at the time it is ready for/the seasoning operation, which applies to goat, sheep or calf skins, kips, `and sides, and while the above approximate speeds of revolution are preferable, it will of course be apparentV that I. do not desirey to be limited to any particular speedor comparative speed' of rotation of the variou's brush rolls, it being d understood that the above suggested speed of revolutions per minute for the various brush rolls are stated for the purpose of illustration of the capabilities of my machine, andthat'in practice,

these brush cylinders may be driven at any other or desired speeds, according to requirements.

It is ordinarily desirable or preferable to rotate the brush roll 61, which is juxtaposed to and coacts with the lcrown shaft 56 (which may revolve as an idler or be driven) at a considerably higher rate Vof speed than' the brush roll 59, for the reason that when theV skin 57 reaches the position indicated in Fig. 1, it will be somewhat stretched, sothat the contiguous brush roll 6l not only has the dual function of rubbing the seasoning liquor into the skin but in addition it also serves to propel or advance the skin over and around the apex of the angle formed by the crown shaft under the endless apron or bolster 46, said brush roll 61 vserving also to exert a pull upon the skin while it is held/ tightly between the crown'shaftv and juxta posed brush roll,` so that while said skin is passing over the crown shaft, it is in a taut orstretched condition.

The outer or grain surface ofthe skin being straightened and stretched efiiciently on said grain side, into which the seasoning is to be rubbed during its passage over the 4crown shaft, the seasoning consequently penetrates the grain of the skin with great thoroughness by reason of its stretched or opened out condition and itis obvious that a much better and more uniform product 1s obtained and the-liability of having portions Y this art that very few skins at this stage of their finishing lie out flat or straight, since they are as a rule more or less frilled `or stand up especially about the flanks and brisket of the skins. As these frilled up portions of the skin pass under the brush rolls, the tendency and difficulty Iheretofore has always been that the frilled portions would be folded or plaited, making three thicknesses of leather instead of one. When this'happens, it will be clear that a double surface of the skin under the `plait could not be acted upon by the brush roll, this being what is termed a skip At other times, what is termed a pocket would be formed in which the seasoning liquid would lie and afterward cake. The result of this caking would be that the skin would be marked.`

wherever a cake had existed. My 'novel vcrown shaft. has the function of mechanically effecting the spreading out of all IplaitedV or frilled portions of Vthe skin, so that by the time the .latter has passed over the angle formed bythe crown shaft, it lies flat and straight. It will be apparent that the formation of all frills, plaits, skips or seasonv wardly` inclined plane, as will be understood l from crown shaftA or roll 56 and then'travels in a downwardly inclined plane, as seen in Fig. 1.

The speed ofthe 'fluted roll 67 is regu# lat-ed so as to carry to the work exactly and 'accurately the volume of liquid required,

and I desire to call especial attention to the employment of the automatic device for elevating orpumping the season liquid into the pan y66 and automatically maintaining a desired or fixed level therein, together with my novel means for effecting the desired agitation of said season liquid in both the pan 66 and the tank 73, so that said season liquid will always be applied to al skin at the proper consistency. As'I am the first in theart to lemploy these features alone or in connection with a machine'of' the character hereinabove described, my claims are igs. land 3,- then passes around the to be interpretedwith the corresponding scope accorded to inventions of this character.

By my invention, over six thousand calf skins can be seasoned with precision' per day and forty dozen skins per hour of either goat or sheep and four hundred kips or sides per hour.

ItI will -now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful construction of machine for seasoning or finishingA leather which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood 'that the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the i vention or` sacrificing any of its advantage Having thus described my invention, what 'I claimv as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The @mbination of a leather seasoning machine,'a.season liquid pan therefor, a roll rotatably mounted in saidpan, a brush roll coacting withQ said feed roll, means for conducting compressed air into said liquid below the level thereof, and means for automatically regulating the amount of liquorp in said pan.

2. The combination'of a leather seasoning machine, a season liquid pan therefor, a 'feed roll rotatably mounted in'said pan, a brush roll coacting withsaid feed roll, and means for conducting compressed air into v said liquid below the level thereof.

f 3. The combination of a leather seasoning machine, a season liquid pan therefor, a' fluted roll revolubly mounted inV 'said pan,

v and a compressed air pipe located i'n said pan, and having outlet ports for discharging compressed air into the space between said roll and a wall of said pan.

4. In 'a leather finishing machine, a sea-V soning liquor containing device, means vfor injecting fiuid under pressure into the liquor toward the bottom of 'said device, and means `for automatically feeding said liquor to a skin.

5. In a leather finishing machine, a seasoning liquor containing'device, means for injecting compressed air'in the liquor c'ontained-in said device, means for automatically feeding said 'liquor to .a skin, and means for automatically and continuously suppl ing liquor to'said containing device.

6. fil a leather finishin machine, a season liquid pan, means or vagitatin'g thc liquid therein means for' automaticallyl maintaining said liquid at la constant level,

. and a fluted roll revolubly 'mounted in said pan.

7 I n a leather finishing machine, av season liquid'pam means for agitating the liquid therein, a fluted roll revolubly Ymounted in said pan, a brush roll coactingwithsaid fluted roll, and means for automatically 'keeping said liquid at a predetermined height in said pan.

8. In a leather finishing machine, a seasoning liquor containing device, means' for injecting compressed air in the liquor contained in said device, means for automatically feeding said liquor to a skin, means for automatically and continuously supplying liquor to said containing device, and means for retaining a therein.

9. In a leather finishing machine, a searegulated quantity of liquor 'soning'liquid pan, means for ejecting compressed air'into said pan to agitate said seasoning liquid, means for automatically feed-L ing said liquid to askin, means for continu-4 ously supplying said liquid.to said pan, and

a revoluble-iuted roll mountedin said pan.

10, I n a leather finishing machine, a season liquid pan, means for ejecting compressed air into said pan to agitate said seasoning liquid, means for automatically feeding said liquid to a skin, means for continuioo skin, a season liquid pan, a season liquid supply tank, means for continuouslysupplying liquor from said tank to said pan, y f

means for automatically '-regulating the amount of liquor in' lsaid p an, a iluted roll adapted to be partly immersed in said liquor, a 'perforated pipe submerged in said liquor and in communication withl a com pressed air supply agitating said liquor, and means for revolving said fluted roll to conduct season liquid to said brush roll.

12. In a leather finishing machine, a skin carrying apron, means to actuate it, a brush rolld for initially applying liquor to said skin, a seasoning liquor containing device, a seasoning liquor supply tank, means for continuouslysupplying liquor from said supply tank to said liquor seasoning container, means for automatically regulating the amount of liquor in said container, a fluted roll partly immersed in said liquor,'a perforated pipe submerged in lsaid liquor and in communication with a compressed air supply for agitating said liquor, means for revolving said fluted roll to conduct seasoning liquor to said brush roll, and additional brush rolls located in proximity to said apron for rubbing said liquor into said skin.

13. In a leather nishing machine, a skin located adjacent said fluted roll, a supply' tank, means for pumping the liquor from said supply tank to said pan, and an overflow pipe Ain said pan discharging into said supply tank for insuring the retention of a given quantity of liquor in said. pan.

14:. In a leather finishing machine, a plurality of drums, a rotatable crown shaft lo- .cated labove said drums, an endless apron passing over said drums and upwardly and downwardly over said crown shaft, a brush -roll for initially applying'a liquor to a skin to be treated, a seasoning liquor containing device, means for injecting compressed air into said liquor for agitating the same, means for continuously supplying liquor to said containing device during the operation apron for producing a crown of the machine, means for retaining a reguflated quantity of liquor in, said containing ,device, a revoluble fluted roller partly immersed in said liquor for conducting the said liquor to said brush roll, and additional brush rolls located in proximity to said vapron .for rubbing said liquor into said skin.

15. In a leather finishing machine, a skin carrying apron, means to actuate it, means comprising a rotatable crown shaft located abofe and between the outer porti ns of said l r bend in said apron, a brush roll for initially applying seasoning liquor to said skin, a second brush roll in proximity to said crown, a pan for the seasoning liquor, and means for`l pneumatically agitating the contents of said pan.

16. In a leather finishing machine, a skin carrylng apron, means to ac tuate it, means comprising a lrotatable crown shaft located Y above and between the outer portions of said apron forproducing a crown or bend in said apron, a brush roll for initially applying seasoning liquor to said skin, a second brush i roll m proximity to said crown, a pan for the seasoning liquor, and means for pneuthereof,'and means for continuously convey 1 `ing liquor fromv said tank to said pan.

18. In a leather finishing machine, a tank for containing the seasoning liquor, a supply pan for the latter, a liquor feeding device in said pan, .means for automatically maintaining the height of the liquor in said Lpan at a constant level, and means for conveying a compressedv fluid into said pan be'- low the -level thereof for lagita-ting saidk liquor. f.

19. In a leather finishing machine, a tank foncontaining the seasoning liquor, asupply pan for the latter, a liquor feeding device in said pan, means for automatically maintaining the height of the liquor in said pan at a constant level, and means for conveying a compressed fluid into said panbelow the level thereof for agitating said liquor, in combination with means for conveying a compressed fluid also into said tank below the level thereof for agitating the contents of said tank.

20. In a leather finishing machine, a skin carrying apron, means to actuate it, means comprising a 4rotatablecrown shaft located above and between the outer portions of said apron forproducing a crown or bend in the apron,""means for initially applying seasoning liquorj to a skin, a brush roll in proximity to said crown, a pan for the seasoning liquor, and 'a perforated compressed' air supply pipe dischar ing into the liquor pelow` the level thereo for agitating the atter. l

, JAMES U. FLA-NAGAN.

Witnesses i C. D. MCVAY, M. E. BYRNE. 

